Check-row planter.



Patented out. I7, |899. A. GREER. cHEcK now PLANTER.

(Application filed July 8, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Shet l.

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(No Model.)

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Patented Oct. I7, |899.

A. GRI-:Enz

CHECK ROW PLANTER.

(Appumicn mea muy s; 189e.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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Patented Oct. I7, i899.

3 sheets-sheet 3.

A GREEH CHECK HDW PLANTEB.

(Applmatxon filed July 8, 1898 YSlfrn'rns ARTHUR G-RER, OF- DIOKS MILL,MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO VILLIAM F. QUIGLEY, OF TIPTON,MISSOURI.

CHECK-ROW PLANTER.

SPECIFIATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,134, dated October17, 1899.

Application filed July 8, 1898. Serial No. 685.425. (No model.)

:o it consists of thenovel construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a checkrower of my improved construction.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken approximately' on theindicated line 2 2 of Fig. l and looking in the direction indicated bythe arrow A.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view taken approximately on the line5 5 of Fig. l. Fig.

zo 4 is a detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 4 4 ofFig. 2 and showing the lever that operates the gates to allow the seedto drop from the plows of the planter into the ground. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal sectional view of the check-rower, taken on the indicatedline 2 2 of Fig. l and looking in the direction indicated bythe arrow B.Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on theline 6 (5 of Fig. l. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View takenapproximately on the line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan viewof the tripping-arms seen i in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 isa View in perspective ofa gravity-pawl of which I make use in carrying out my invention.

In the construction of my improved checkrower I make use of arunner-frame l and a wheel-frame 2, said frames being U-shaped andarranged in horizontal positions, the runner-frame in front of thewheel-frame and the meeting endsl of said frames being joined by bolts 3to form a hinged joint between said frames. The runner-frame l lies in aplane above that occupied by the wheel-frame 2, the forward ends of saidwheel-frame 2 being curved upwardly in order to join with the rear endsof the runner-frame.

A tubular shaft or axle 4, which will behereinafter describedin detail,is transversely ar- 5o rangedA in suitable bearings at the rear end ofthe wheel-frame, upon the outer ends of which 'alinement withfthetraction-wheels 5.

- tubular shaft or axle are arranged tractionwheels 5. A pair ofparallel tubular cross-bars 6 and 7is arranged transversely upon therun- .ner-fra1ne,the bar 6 being near the forward end 55 thereof and thebar 7,adjacent the rear end of the frame, and carried by the outer endsof ,these bars 6 and 7 are the runners S, the

same being immediately in front of and in j EX- 6o tendinglongitudinally through the centerof the runner-frame is a bar S), theforward end of which terminates a short distance in front of saidrunner-frame, and to said forward end of the bar is attached thedoubletree (not shown) that forms a connection between the check-rowerand the draft-animals. This bar 9 is bolted to the transverse cross-bars6 and 7, and tothe rear end of said bar l) is bolted a pair of strongspring-plates 10, the same eX- 7o tending rearwardly from the top andbottom sides of said bar 9, the extreme rear ends of said spring-platesbeing provided with rolled ends or lugs l1 and there beinglongitudinally-extending slots I2 formed in the rear 75 ends of saidplates. The runners 8 are of the usual form and are provided at theirtops with the longitudinally-extending bars 13, the tnbular seed-chutes14 connecting said bars 13 with the rear ends of the runners S. Rigidly8o located upon the tops of the bars I3 are the plates 15, with each ofwhich is formed integral an upwardly-projecting circular disk 1G,

in which is formed an aperture 17, which coincides with the passagethrough the tubular seed-chute. A circular lug 18 is formed integralwith the center of the disk or plate 1G, and projecting upwardly fromthe center of the lug 18 is a screw-threaded pin 19. A ring 20, theunder side of which is provided with 9o beveled gear-teeth 2l, is`arranged for rotation upon the disk 16, and oppositely-arrangedinwardly-projecting lugs 22 are formed integral with the inner edge ofthis beveled gearring 20, saidv lugs engaging iu oppositely-arrangednotches formed in the edge of a plate 23, th at is arranged to rotatewith said ring 2O upon the 4disk 16. There is a centrally-arrangedaperture in this plate 23, through which the lug I8 projects, and formedthrough Ico said plate 23 and at equal distances apart is a plurality ofapertures 24,tliat arc so positioned outwardly.

arms 44 and rigidly carried by the shaft 42 as that they will during therotation of said plate successively coincide with the aperture 17 andtubular seed-chute 14.

The seedbox 25 is in the form of a sheetmetal cylinder, and the loweredge of said seedbox rests directly upon the top of the beveledgear-ring 20. Rigidly fixed to the inner side of the lower end of saidseedbox v25 is a tri-armed bracket 26, said arms projecting from acentrally-arranged base 27, through which is formed an aperture toreceive the piu 19, and a nut is located upon said pin 19 and holds thebase rigidly upon the lug 18. Two of the arms of this bracket 26 are, aspreviously stated, secured to the seedbox 25, while the third arm 28extends vertically upward and has its upper end turned into a horizontalplane and extended-- lto a point immediately above the aperture 17previously mentioned. In the outer end of this outwardly-turned endportion is formed an aperture 29, and through the arm that is inalinement with said outwardly-turned end is formed lan aperture 30,through which alined apertures operates a vertical rod 31, the lower endof which carries a ball 32, that normally engages in the apertures 24through the plate 23.

Extending transversely between the rear ends of the runners 8 is arock-shaft 33,which is arranged in suitable bearings 34, that aresecured to the under sides of the frame l, the ends 35 of saidrock-shaft being turned downwardly immediately behind the tubularseedchutes 14, and carried by the extreme lower ends of saiddownwardly-turned ends 35 are horizontally-arranged plates 36,thatnormally engage below the lower ends of the tubular seed-chutes 14 andcut off the passage therethrough. Adjustably located upon this shaft 33is a downwardly and forwardly projecting arm 37, theforwardly-projecting portion of whichis bifurcated to form the matingfingers 38, said fingers 38 being curved outwardly, as indicated by 39,Fig. 4, at a point adjacent where they join with the solid portion ofthe arm 37 to form a passage 40 between said fingers, which passage ismuch wider than the passage between the remaining portions of saidfingers 38. This passage 40 is formed on an angle through the arm 37,the reason of which will be hereinafter specified.

Bolted to the under sides of the rear ends of the top bars 13 aredownwardly-projecting brackets 41, which perform the function of stopsto limit the rearward movement of the downwardly-turned ends 35 of theVshaft Arranged for rotation in suitable bearings carried by the underside of the runner-frame 1 is a shaft 42, upon the ends of which arefixed beveled gear-pinions 43, that mesh with the beveled gear-rings20,and loosely mounted upon said shaft 42 at a point in verticalalinement with the arm 37 is a pair of trippingarms 44, the upper endsof which are curved Between the lower ends of said outside one of thearms 44 with a weight 49. 'l

Bolted to the top of the tubular cross-bars 6 and 7 immediately to one'side of the triparms 44 is a longitudinally-extending bar 50, and tosaid bar 50 is pivoted the forward end of a gravity-pawl 51, the rearend of which carries a laterally-projecting vlinger `52, that normallyengages in the notches-47 of the ratchet-wheel 45, the extreme outer endof said arm 52 being provided with a suitable weight 53. Adjustably heldupon the top of this bar 50 is a laterally-projecting finger 54,

that perforlns the .function of a stop tolimit the forward movement ofthe trip-.arms 44. Projecting laterally from a point near the rear endof the bar 50 is an arm 55, to the outer end of which is connected therear end of'a bar 56, that lies parallel with the bar 50, and in andbetween the forward ends of these parallel bars 50 and 56 is journaled ashaft 57, there being a grooved pulley 58 rotatably mounted upon saidshaft between said vbars 50 and 56. -To the laterally-projecting arm 55is secured the rear end of a retractile coilspring 59, the forward endof which is secured to the trip-arms 44, the action of said coilspring59 being to return the trip-arms to their normal position after the samehave been moved forwardly to their limit of movement.

Bolted to the under side of the center bar 9 is a laterally-projectingarm 60, upon the end of which is journaled a grooved pulley 6l, and tothe shaft of said pulley is pivotally connected a pair offorwardly-projecting varms 62, between the ends of which is journaled asecond lgrooved pulley 63, and projecting forwardly from the shaftthereof is a pair of arms 64, between the forward ends of which isjournaled a third grooved pulley 65, the same being provided with asuitable weight 66. These grooved pulleys 6l, 63, and are what is knownas idlers,and they are in alinement and occupy the space between theforward ends of the fingers 38 of the bifurcated arm 37 and the groovedpulley 58. Upon one end of the shaft upon which the pulley 58 isjournaled is arranged a sheave or pulley 67, the purpose of which willbe presently disclosed.

Carried by the tubular cross-bars 6 and 7, adjacent the center bar 9, isa longitudinally-extending rod 68, that is provided with a plurality ofupwardly and downwardly projecting guide-rings 69, the same being inalinement with the sheave 67. A bracket is bolted to the top of thetubular cross-bar 7, one end of which bracket is turned upwardly toreceive a horrizontally-arranged bolt 7l, upon which is rotatablyarranged a grooved wheel72, and a pair of arms 73 is pivotally IOO IOS

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held upon said bolt 71, between the outer ends of which arms isrotatably arranged a grooved wheel 74. These grooved wheels perform thefunction of idlers and are directly in the rear of the upper ends of thetrip-arms 44.

Fixed to and projecting inwardly from the left-hand side of thewheel-frame 2 is a pair of arms 75, the inner ends of which are prowitha longitudinally-extending,tilting bar or lever S0, the forward end ofthis bar pivotally engaging a vertically-arranged arm 81, the ends ofwhich project upwardly through the slots 12 in the spring-plates 10, itsends being provided with the laterally-projecting lugs 82, and the rearend of said bar is provided with a foot-rest 83. The lower end of ahand-lever 84 is rigidly connected to the shaft 79, said hand-leverbeing provided with -the usual latch that engages in the notches of thesegments 7G.

Carried by the spring-arm 85, that is bolted to therear end of thewheel-frame 2, is a drivers seat 86, and pivoted to a bracket carried bythe rear end of the segment 76 immediately in front of this ,driversseatS is a bell-crank lever S7, the lower end of which is connected by ahorizontally-arranged bar 88 with the downwardly-pending arm 89 of atransversely-arman ged rock-shaf t 90, which is arranged in suitablebearings upon the rear end of the wheel-frame 2, the outer ends of saidrock-shaft 90 carrying curved plates 91,

that perform the function of scrapers to engage the peripheries of thetraction-wheels 5. AA bracket 92 extends upwardly from the center of thebar S0, and journaled to the upper end thereof is a sheave 93, uponwhich sheave is wound a measure-line 94, the same being carried forwardfrom the upwardly-projecting guide-rings 69, )reviously mentioned,around the sheave U7 and rearwardly from the downwardly-projectingguide-rings 69, and finally to a point adjacent the drivers seat, whereit terminates and is provided with a weight 95.

The tubular shaft or axle 4, upon which the traction-wheels 5 aremounted,is arranged in suitable bearings carried by the wheelframe 2,and said shaft or axle is composed of a tubular member 9G, theright-hand half of which-is reduced in diameter, which re-v ducedportion is provided with a sleeve 97,

that carries on its inner end an integral flange 9S, the face of whichis provided with ratchetteeth. The left-hand traction-wheel 5 is rigidlycarried upon the left-hand end of the shaft or axle 96, while theright-hand wheel is rigidly xed to the end of the sleeve 97.

Arranged to slide upon the inner end of the enlarged portion of the axle96 is asleeve 99, the inner end of which carries a flange 100, havingratchet-teeth adapted to engage between the ratchet-teeth of the flange98. A disk 101 is formed integral with the sleeve 99, said disk havinga' curved face, which curved face is adapted to be engaged by aninclined face 1'02, formed on the under side-ofthe bar 80. Formedintegral with the outer end of the sleeve 99 is a pair ofoppositely-arranged lugs 103, that are adapted to enter-notches 104,formed in a sleeve 105, which is rigidly carried by the larger portionof the axle 96 between the sleeve 99 and the left-hand. bearing of theaxle 96. An expansive coil-spring 106 is Vlocated upon the sleeves 105and 99 between this left-hand bearing and the curvedfaced disk 101. Thetendency of this coilspring 106 is to throw the ratchet-face of theflange 100 into engagement with the ratchetface of the fiange 9S.Loosely mounted upon the sleeve 97 to the right of the iiange 98 isanarrow U-shaped frame 107, the same projecting forwardly, and journaledin suitable bearings carried by the forward end of said frame is a shaft10S, that carries a large traction-wheel 109, having a groovedperiphery, which traction-wheel 109 is in direct alinement with theidlers 74 and 72 of the triparms 44. The forward end of this frame 107is sustained by a curved arm 110, that projects forwardly from saidframe 107 and is loosely connected to a downwardly-pending arm 111, thatis carriedby the transverse cross-bar 7, or it may be a continuation ofthe rear end of the bar 50. A chain 112, provided at suitable intervalswith balls or enlarged links 113, passes around the groovedtraction-wheel 109 between the idlers 74 and 72, from thence between thetrip-arms 44, around the groovedpulley 5S, beneath the idler 65, betweenthe idlers 63 and 61, and between the fingers 3S. Anbrdinarysprocketwheel 114 is rigidly carried upon the shaft' 10S to the righthand of the frame 107, and

vsaid sprocket-wheel 114 is connected by an `ordinary'sprocket-chain 115with a sprocket- Ywheel 116, that is rigidly carried upon the sleeve 97between the frame 107 and the righthand portion of the frame 2.

The operation is as follows: As the planter is moved forwardly acrossthe field with all of the parts in proper position,the groovedtraction-wheel 109 rides direct-ly upon the-ground, and consequentlyrotates, and in so doing the chain 112 is caused to travel around saidgrooved traction-wheel 109 and over and between the idlers, ashereinbefore stated. Whenever one of the balls or enlarged links 113engages against the rear sides of the arms 44, it will cause said armsto move forwardl y in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7until said arms assume a position as shown by dotted lines in saidfigure, during whichmovement the gravity-pawl 48,carried by said arms44,wil1 engage one of the IOO teeth 46 of the ratchet-wheel 45 andpartially rotate said ratchet-wheel, which in turn will partially rotatethe shaft 42, and the beveled gear-pinions 43,carried by said shaft42,being in mesh with the beveled gear-ring 20, said ring 2O will bepartially rotated. Some of the seed within the seedbox 25 will of coursepass into the recesses formed by the apertures 24, and said seed will becarried around in successive movements to a point beneath one of thearms of the bracket 26, and as a portion of said arm is formed to removethe excess seed from the recess that passes beneath said arm only theproper number of seeds will be carried to the point desired. Eachsuccessive movement of the seed-plate 23 will carry one of the apertures24, filled with seed, to a point in alinement with the aperture 17 andpassage through the seedchute 14. Said seed will now dischargedownwardly through said seed-chute 14 onto the cut-0E plate 36, and theball 32, which was previously elevated as it 4rode onto the face of theseed-plate 23, will gravitate into the aperture 24, that coincides withthe aperture 17, and will thus cut off the passage from the seedboX intothe seed-chute. This prevents any extra seeds from accidentally passinginto the seed-chute. When the ball or enlarged link 113 has traveledaround the pulley 58 and past the idlers 65, 63, and 6l, it

v engages on top of the forwardly-projecting fingers 38, and as itcontinues in its travel it willride rearwardly along the top edges ofsaid fingers and atthe ,same time will del press said ngers, which inlturn imparts a slight movement to the arm 37, slightly rocks the shaft33, and causes the plates 36 to move rearwardly away from the lower endsof the seed-chutes 14. Thus the seed is momentarily held at the lowerend of the seed-chute 14, which allows all of the individual seeds topass onto said plate 36, and then said seeds are all simultaneouslyallowed to discharge into the ground, and as the planter passes on saidseeds will 'be covered by the tractionwheels 5. This action takes placeas often as one of the balls or enlarged links 113 engages thetripping-arms 44 and the fingers 38. When the tripping-arms 44 start ontheir forward movement, the arm 52 is pushed out of the notch 47, inwhich it was engaged, and when lsaid arms 44 have reached their forwardlimit of movement another notch 47 will have been brought into positionwhere it can be engaged by the arm 52. When the ball or link 113 slipsoff from the upper ends of the arms 44, the retractile coil-spring 59Awill instantly return said arms 44 to their normal positions, duringwhich movement the arm 52 of thegravity-pawl will hold the ratchetwheel45 against any rearward movement, and when the arms 44 have reachedtheir limit of movement the gravity-pawl 48 will drop behind the nextadjacent tooth 46, which has been brought into position by the previousmovement of said arms. Then the spots, the distance between said marksor spots being approximately equal to the distance required to turn thecorn planter around. When the planter has reached the end of the fieldand just before turning the same, the driver and operator of the planterwinds or uuwinds the sheave 93 until the irst mark or spot is in directtransverse alinement with the ball or enlarged link 113, that will nextengage with the tripping-arms 44, the position of the mark or spot beingclearly shown in Fig. 1. After doing this the driver removes the weight95 from its resting-place and allows it to drop upon the ground, afterwhich he manually engages the upper end of the hand-lever 84 and at thesame time places his foot upon the rest 83,'then successively bears downupon said rest and pulls the upper end of the hand-lever toward the rearend of the planter. This combined pull will tilt the bar 8O upon theshaft 79, depressing the rear end thereof and elevating the forwardend,and when the forward end is elevated the bar 8l will pull upwardlyon the lower one of the spring-plates 10, and thus elevate the entirefront of the machine and the runners carried thereby. Vhen said runnersmove upwardly out of the ground, the curved arm 110 is slightlyelevated, and consequently the grooved traction-wheel 109 is elevatedfrom the ground, so that when the planter is turned said groovedtraction-wheel will not rotate and none of the parts carried by therunnerframe will operate. Vhen the rear end of the bar 8O is depressed,the beveled face 102 on the under side thereof will bear against thecurved'face of the disk 101 and the sleeve 99 and parts carried therebywill be moved to the left, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, whichmovement willcompress the coilspring 106 and separate the parts of theclutch formed by the flanges 98 and 100,v that are provided with theengaging faces. This action throws the sprocket-wheel116 out ofoperation, and the planter may be turned withoutany operation of thedropping mechanism. When the hand-lever 84 is pulled rearwardly, it maybe locked by the usual operation of the latch thereon engaging with oneof the notches of the segment 76, and when so locked the entirerunner-frame of the machine is held in an elevated position. Theplanter, with the runner-frame and runners in an elevated position, isnow turned, and in so doing the measure-line 94 will unwind, as theweight 95 remains at the point where it was first dropped. When theplanter has been completely turned IOO IIO

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around, itis moved forwardly until the second one of the marks orV spotsappears upon said measure-line directly opposite the ball or enlargedlink 113,' and this will insure the dropping of the new row in properalinement with the rows previously planted. After the planter has beenturned the driver rewinds the measure-line upon the sheave 93, loos'ensthe latch of the hand-lever 84, and by so doing allows the runner-frameand mechanism carried thereby to lower to its working position.

'-This movement causes the bar 8O to swing into its normal position,which releases the disk lOl and allows the sleeve 9D to move forwardly,which movement necessarily brings togetherl the two parts of the clutchupon the axle or tubular shaft 4. This brings all of the parts of theplanter into operative position, and the new row is planted as theplanter moves across the field. the driver places his foot upon the rearend of the bell-crank lever 87 and moves the same downwardly, whichmovement causes the Scrapers '91 to engage the peripheries of thetraction-wheels 5, thus cleaning the same.

A check-rower of my improved construction is simple, strong, anddurable, is easily operated,and very eflicient in use;

I claimi l. A check-rower, constructed with a runner-frame, runnerscarried thereby, a wheelframe, traction-wheels supporting saidwheelframe, which runner-frame and wheel-frame are pivotally connected,a centrally-located longitudinally-extending bar in the runnerframe, apair of spring-plates extending rear-' wardly from the end of said bar,which plates are slotted, a tilting-bar carried by the wheelframe, theforward end of which tilting-bar pivotally engages the slotted ends ofthe spring-plates, seed-dropping mechanism carried by the ru nner-frame,a grooved tractionwheel rotatably carried by the wheel-frame,connections from said traction-wheel to the seed-dropping mechanisms,means whereby the rotary motion of the traction-Wheels is imparted tothe grooved traction-wheel, and means whereby the seed-droppingmechanism is thrown out of operation when the tiltingbar is operated toraise the runner-frame, substantially as specified.

2. A check-rower, constructed with a runner-frame, runners carriedthereby, a wheelframe, traction-wheels supportingsaid wheelframe, whichrunner-frame and wheel-frame Whenever desired,

tape-measure is suitably located indicating- 6o marks, and aweightsecured to the rear end of said tape-measure, substantially asspecified.

In a check-rower, a wheel-frame, a shaft carried thereby, tractionwheels arranged upon the ends of said shaft, a runner-frame pivotal] yconnected to said wheel-frame, runners carried bysaid runner-frame,seedboxes arranged upon said runners, seed-dischargin g mechanismarranged in the bottom of said seedboxes, a shaft rotatably arranged and7o extending between said seedboxes, pinions carried by the end of saidshaft for operating said discharging mechanism, a ratchet-Wheel rigidlycarried by said shaft, a pair of arms loosely located upon said shaft, agravity-pawl 7 5 carried'between said arms for engaging the teeth ofsaid wheel, a gravity-pawl for engaging the notches of said wheel, andmeans operated from the shaft of the wheel-frame for tripping the arms,substantially as specified. 8o

4. In a check-rower, a tubular shaft, Wheels mounted on the endsthereof, a frame carried by said shaft, a runner-frame pivotallyconnected to the wheel-frame, runners carried by the runner-frame,tubular seed-chutes in- 8 5 tegral with said runners, seedboxes carriedupon said runners, means located in the bottom of the seedboxes fordischarging a certain amountof seed into the tubular seedchutes, meanswhereby said seed-discharging 9o mechanism is operated, arock-shaftarranged i between the runners behind the'tubnlar seed'- chutes,tl1eends of which rockshaft are turned downwardly behind said seed-chutes,plates carried by thelower ends of said downwardlyturned ends fornormally closing the lower ends of the tubular seed-chutes, and an armcarried by the shaft, which arm extends downwardly and forwardly, theforwardly-bent portion of which is bifurcated and the fingers lIceformed by the bifurcation being bent outwardly to form an enlargedpassage through the arm, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, ARTHUR GREER.

Witnesses:

RUSSELL MONROE, F. M. JosLYN.

